Hunter Biden was spotted picking up a fast-food order in California, marking his first public appearance since his father, President Biden, pardoned him. The media asked Hunter for a comment on the pardon, but he did not respond and simply got into an SUV with security. President Biden stated that he decided to pardon his son because he believed the charges against Hunter were politically motivated and a miscarriage of justice. This decision was made despite President Biden previously vowing not to interfere with the Justice Department’s decisions.
President Biden’s statement explained that Hunter was treated differently in his cases and that the charges only came about after political opponents instigated them to attack him. He mentioned that a plea deal negotiated by the Department of Justice had unraveled in court, with his political opponents taking credit for applying political pressure on the process. President Biden emphasized that he hopes Americans will understand why he made the decision to pardon his son, citing raw politics influencing the justice system as a factor.
President Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter Biden contrasts with his previous statements earlier in the year, where he vowed not to pardon his son after he was found guilty in a June gun trial. Despite Hunter being found guilty of lying about his drug use when purchasing a gun in 2018, resulting in charges of making false statements in the gun purchase and possession of a gun, President Biden decided to pardon him. Hunter also faced trial for tax offenses related to an alleged failure to pay $1.4 million in taxes, to which he entered a surprise guilty plea just before jury selection was to begin.
Hunter Biden’s history of addiction is well-documented, as detailed in his memoir “Beautiful Things,” which chronicles his struggles with crack cocaine use. The pardon of Hunter by President Biden has raised questions about who else the President may choose to pardon, considering his previous stance on not interfering with the Justice Department’s decisions. The decision to pardon Hunter came after President Biden wrestled with the belief that raw politics had influenced the process and led to a miscarriage of justice, ultimately leading to his decision as a father and a President.
